Every month the Administrative/Professional (A/P) Council highlights an A/P staff member through a series of questions as another way for the Illinois State community to connect. This month readers can get to know Stephanie Alvarez-Rivera, residence hall coordinator, University Housing Services.
Job title/position
Manchester Hall Coordinator
What are your responsibilities in this role?
My role gives me the opportunity to get to know, guide, and work with student leaders both as RAs and in my advising groups who teach me how to be a better role model to them and my peers. I also get the opportunity to live within the halls and interact with residents on a daily basis. Together, we build community, establish traditions, support one another, collaborate with campus partners and provide an experience throughout their stay in our residence halls.
How long have you been an employee at ISU?
I have been here as an employee since January of 2020! So that will make it about two-and-a-half young years. I was also lucky enough to be a part of and graduate from the College Student Personnel Administration program in December of 2019!
What do you love most about working at ISU?
Truly, I love my “Team Steph” community consisting of coworkers and students! The ones that support, challenge, and continue to make sure that I am the best person I can be both in my role and in my personal life. It is simply the people within that make ISU so special. I am very fortunate and grateful for everyone I have met and for those who have helped me get to where I am today.
What is one fact about yourself that might surprise people?
I am incredibly goofy and have a cluster of sound effects and accents I enjoy plugging into conversations and storytelling from time to time.
When you’re not working, what are you most likely doing?
When I am not working, I am either hiking with my two-year-old dog, Atlas, kickboxing, checking out a new frolf course (new hobby!) or simply enjoying the sunset at Comlara Park!
What is your favorite spot on campus?
Redbird Arena, Section 116, Row 1, Seat 3: The seat behind the team’s bench at the women’s basketball game! Let’s go Birds!
What quote most inspires you? Why?
“Life doesn’t give you the people you want. It gives you the people you need: to love you, hate you, break you, and make you the person you were meant to be.”
This quote was shared by a fellow camp counselor back in 2013! In my life, I’ve had doors that opened for me to relocate and move a lot and, as a result, I have met and made connections with a lot of people from various countries and experiences in life. I am here because of them. I am who I am because of them. For me, it’s important that I continue growing, and it’s the people I surround myself with that help guide me to where I need to go and support me in whom I want to become.
